Massachusetts Chickadee

The challenge today is to make something that comes from your home state. At first I thought of "Boston, Boston, home of the bean and the cod, where Cabot's speak only to Lowell's, and Lowell's speak only to God", which really is true!! Then I thought about the Boston Common, and the Swan Boats, and even the walking tour of Old North Church, freedom trail, and historical stuff like that. Nah!!

Mom and I ended up making a card using the SU punch of our state bird, the chickadee. We have a whole bunch of bird feeders (for DH's pets!!), and those little guys flit in and out so fast!! I love their little voices calling "chickadee...dee...dee" all day. I never get tired of it.

So here is our bird. We have never tried this out before, and next time we will make a few adjustments, but it turned out okay. Enjoy the birds wherever you are, and have a fun day!

An award from Lynn

An award passed on from Lynn McAuley. Now I have to tell 10 things that make me happy, and 5 bits of trivia before passing it along to 5 friends.

Family, candy, SCS, new stamps, lunch out with DH, visiting Mom, grands, retirement, hot tub, stamping.

I don't like TV except for sports, I love breakfast ALL DAY, I love HOT foods, don't talk to me before coffee, I don't like to talk on the phone.

Now I send this award to: Stef, Julia, Emily, Joanne, and Mary. Pick up the picture, and tell all!

RED Friday!

After a lot of messages pleading, and some threatening to call 911, here, finally, is a card done all in RED!!!

I know you expect this from me, and darn it! it's a burden, but here's a quilt made from all RED scraps. I'd love to tell you what dp I used, but who can even guess when the pieces are so small. I save every bit of RED, and I love all these different patterns put together!

Now. Mom is coming for the weekend. She's getting a perm this morning, and then will drive here. Stay off the highway ...... she's 88 and that's the speed she goes in her Caddy!! We are having our SU! demo here on Sunday for some fun and crafting, so she'll be here with bells on. We always have a list, and this time it involves some more punches. (Are there ever enough??)

Have a great day. My comments will depend on how busy Mom makes me!!!

THT044 Color Challenge Featuring ME!!

Happy Thursday! This week, I am featured after choosing the challenge for TreehouseThursday. I chose a Color Challenge......Yellow and Lavender. I love these colors for Spring, for babies, for kids, for flowers, for cute little anythings.

This image is from the set called Zoofari Friends. I happen to LOVE giraffes, so this was a no-brainer for me.

There are lots of parts and layers for this card, but they really aren't necessary if you want to join us in this challenge. Be sure to upload to http://www.treehousestamps.blogspot.com/ and connect to Mr. Linky. In your gallery, please put THT044 in your keyword. See you next week with another fun challenge!

Little tweety Bird

The sketch today at SCS is wonderful ........ color blocking, and great for using up odds and ends of paper, of which I have mountains!!

The image is a new digi by

www.treehousestamps.com,

called Little Tweety. There are a number of really cute designs and words. Be sure to check it out.

Have a great day today. It's supposed to be in the mid 80's, so I'll be outside most of the day, soaking up the rays and cooling off in the hot tub. See you tomorrow!

Two on Tuesday!!

The color challenge today is to use Soft Suede, Teal, and Celery. Great combo, isn't it??

I just got a new cb folder, one of four in a set by Provocraft. The big one is a checkerboard pattern, and this one of bricks (?) has a real Asian feel to it.

I used my markers on Art Of Life, still one of my favorite sets, and crimped a piece of celery, which was the "dessert" of the challenge. I had a great piece of ribbon to match. How cool is that?

This is my entry for MMTPT88. The story is pretty involved, but my response to the story is this:

Frazzle, the rooster at McCoy's Farm is panic-struck to think he may lose his job. Frizzle is out behind the barn teaching the hens to "rap", and their nests are empty. Normally they lay 42,00 eggs, but today there are only 17! Maybe Frazzle needs to learn "rap" to get those girls back where they belong, but everyone knows they lay more eggs when the music is soothing. Here's the RAP for the card (with apologies to your sensibilities).

Behind the barn

Learnin' how to rap

Layin' those eggs

Is really no snap.

Frazzle can't do it.

He needs them girls.

Losin' his job's

The end a his world!

Send Frizzle back.

Fill those nests.

Heck with that rap,

Muzak's the best!!

Two for the CAS

The CAS today was to use a sentiment as our only stamp. Good chance to use some fabulous dp, or to make a nice bg by yourself.

I think some of you will be pleased to see a little RED from yours truly. You know I sneak it in whenever I can!!

I hope you all had a nice Easter. We spent it with DD and her family, and this year all our kids and grandkids were together. Nice. DH, Mom and I stayed until we were tired (which gets earlier every year!), and left the younger generation to chat and laugh among themselves. To tell you the truth, I'm always glad when the holidays are over. Now Mom and I can concentrate on going on vacation to NH to stamp ourselves silly! Have a great day!!!

RED for the IC today

Mom is here for Easter weekend, and we have had the giggles this morning. The card is for the IC, and what inspired me is shown here..... a fabulous hat with a RED rose. How could I resist???!!

When I was a kid, Mom, Gram and I would go to the BIG dept. store and try on hats. We would get laughing so hard we would have to go to the Ladies' room. Just thinking about it made us laugh again.

I hope you like my hand-made rose. Have a wonderful safe and peaceful Easter, unless you'll be like us, having dinner with the six (out of 7) grands, in addition to all my kids. Bedlam for sure! Hugs to all!

Accordian Book for Spring

This is the front of the accordian book I made while I was up all night, instead of sleeping. It only took about an hour to do, and most of that time was figuring out what my theme and images would be. The actual putting together was easy after the brainwork, which was a little impeded with lack of sleep!

I'm going to tuck this into the bag of goodies I have for my Mom when she arrives later this morning for the Easter weekend.

Here is the inside of the book. I hope you can read each of the little pages. They are only 3 by 2 1/4, so they're not all that big. They say: Welcome rain; Welcome sun; Welcome flowers; Welcome trees; Welcome friends; Spring has sprung. If you click on the picture it will enlarge. Have a great day!

THT043 Spotlighted Lion

Happy Thursday! The Treehouse Thursday Challenge today is to use the Spotlighting Technique.

I used an image from http://www.treehousestamps.com/ called Zoofari Friends which will be available next week. I love the look on the lion's face, so that was the part I popped to spotlight it. Get it???

If you would like to join us this week, be sure to put THT043 in your keyword. See you next Thursday!

Divine Diva Inspiration Challenge #25 and a PRIZE!

Happy April! Today's Inspiration Challenge comes from Pier I. I really loved the colors of the advertisement, and wanted to keep both the colors and the flower of Spring theme.

The image I used is from SU!, called Bloomin' Beautiful. The Dp is from the Dollar Tree, and the colors I used to paint are yellow, pumpkin, celery, olive, and black. The blossom is popped up. The little bird is a punch from MS, and the white ribbon takes the place of the words all in white.

If your join us, please link your card to us here: http://www.divastamper.blogspot.com/. There will be a PRIZE offered this time, as we have completed our first year as a team!! You could win!! We'll see you again in two weeks!

Creative Belli Challenge #88

The Creative Belli Challenge this time is to make
a card or project using COLOR SPRAY (glimmer mist, walnut ink, make your own, etc.).


Our sponsor for this challenge is The Stamping Boutique. They kindly sent us some digi images to use, and here is the one I chose called "Spring Cleaning".


The colors suggest spring cleaning to me..... dirty water, yucky walls. Hmmmmm.... I don't think I've done Spring Cleaning since ..... 1978??? And NEVER will again!! No point to it. It only has to be done the next time, right???


Please feel free to join us. Be sure to connect your project to Mr. Linky on our blog here at http://www.creativebelliblogspot.com/ for a chance at some fun stuff, check out the DT's pictures, and upload to SCS with CBC in your keyword. Don't forget to take a look at http://www.thestampingboutique.com/ as soon as you can!!

Bunny Chick

I'm making this my absolute last Easter themed card. If it wasn't for Teapot Tuesday, I wouldn't have done this one. Then again, I would have, because I like to send my Mom a bunch of cards for whatever holiday.

She loves to get mail (don't we all!), and she decorates her mantel and organ with them, so whoever comes in the house can't possibly miss 'em!

She is actually one of my favorite peeps, along with DH, kids and grands, not to mention the actual marchmallow ones. Diet be darned when those cute guys are around.

Have a great day, enjoy the sun if you see it......we are still having rain, flooded basements (not us, thankfully), closed roads, and rivers at their highest ever!!

Inside, Outside

With thanks to Amy S. for this fab layout!!

I never do anything with the inside of my cards except use them for a sentiment. For some strange reason, when the outside is done, I'm thinking about the next project. Lately, I've been eliminating sentiments on the outside, telling myself I'll use it for "whatever". Possibly that's not so. I seem to be in a hurry these days, and I have no reason to be. I'm retired. What could be that pressing?

I need to get out of my rut. Holly may just have nudged me to alter my behavior by her challenge today. I hope so. I love the results, and will try to slow down and do more of this sort of thing. Input, please!! Hugs to you all!!

Moonflower Inspiration

The website chosen for the Inspiration Challenge today is called http://www.thymes.com/, and has the most beautiful packaging for their products. The one I chose is pictured here, along with my card. I had no intention of doing this today...... I have lots to do, and company coming for dinner and cards.

I used gold embossing and liquid pearls to add a little punch to the image, which is a bit smaller that the one on the box, and I think it looks great!! I hope you like it too. I left off a sentiment, and will just use it for whatever comes along. Have a wonderful weekend!!

I Love/Hate Cats!!

I love little furry creatures. I probably will never have another cat, but I really have fun with those that belong to my friends and family.

The challenge today at SCS is to make a card other than A2, inspired by your favorite musical. My favorite is My Fair Lady. I also love Bye, Bye Birdie, which I saw with Dick Van Dyke on Broadway. I couldn't come up with anything I really liked for the first, and have done a number of birds lately, so those were out.
I have this crazy friend, Cheryl, who has three cats at the moment (she's had more, believe me!), and she's having a birthday shortly. This card is for her.

Now to the Hate part of the story. When Cats was first playing in Boston, we bought outrageously expensive tickets with two other couples. We went to a pricey restaurant for dinner, then to the theater. At the intermission, we talked it over, and all went home. We hated it. The costuming was fabulous, but nonetheless, we hated it. Now I'm sure some of you loved it, but it just wasn't our thing. That's my story about Cats, and I'm stickin' to it!!

And it's snowing! Is eight o'clock in the morning too early to start drinking?????!

Birthday Card for Sarah

My DIL Sarah is having a birthday shortly, and I have been thinking about a card with a purple lily. She loves both the flower and color. What a pleasant surprise today to discover the WT and the StampinB's challenges incorporated both!!

This card is a bit over the top, but I think she will like it. I used all kinds of punches, cb, pendant, ribbon, beads, photo turns, brads, painting, sponges, dimensionals, the WORKS!!

Hope you like this, and that you will also take a look at my other post below for the THT042!!

THT042 Sketch Challenge

The TreeHouse Thursday Challenge this week is to use the sketch provided here by owner, Ashley Bowen. When you upload be sure to add THT042 to your keyword.

My card for the Challenge uses a stamp from the new digi set called Out Of This World. The Alien is painted in celery, yellow, blue and RED.

You can see all the rest of the DT's entries this week by going to www.treehousestampsblogspot.com, and you can add yours there as well. Mr. Linky would LOVE to see you!!

You can also see the rest of this set, and a whole bunch of new ones at www.treehousestamps.com.

We'd love to have you visit, and shop too!!

Sketch Challenge

Thank goodness our blogs still work!! SCS, in transfering to another server, is just plain WONKY!! It will take some time to work out the 'bugs', so in the meantime, here is the card I made for the SC273 today.

I paper pieced the cute little bird from http://www.treehousestamps.com/ after I printed it out (and the saying as well) and punched a bunch of other stuff to add to it. I think it's really cute. Nice card for Spring. Today the sun is shining, and I have hopes Winter is over!! Have great day, and thanks for looking and your comments!!

Color Challenge

I thought these colors were tough until I started using them! Durango, pink, and caramel would not have been my first choice, but there is a certain beauty to them. I went to my old reliable Stipple Rose, the stamp image I use when I have no idea what I'm doing. I guess I use it a lot! LOL!!

The Martha Stewart satin ribbon is just the right shade to go with the paint, and the darker brads really looked nice, I think.

The SCS website is down until late this afternoon, so instead of commenting and looking, I'll be visiting more of your blogs. Have a fun day!!!